2 yr old turning 3

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Continued thanks for the input. To be clear I do want to do the right thing, I was pretty sure I needed a Halloween party ticket for her I just contacted Disney to clarify. What was surprising was the info that she needed a park ticket. I've read on a million forums and blogs and websites that what matters is the age they are when the trip begins. Even the Disney moms panels says that and responds "nobody ages at Disney "
Just curious if anyone has been actually told by Disney that the child continues to be 2 or if everyone just assumed that...

The thing about the internet, and especially social media about Disney, is that people post when a CM gives them a freebie, plusses up their stay, or does other nice things, and then other people expect to get the same treatment (not a dig at you, just quoting you because I'm answering this particular question ). So, before you know it, people expect these concessions because the stories are told and retold. I would ask the CM at the time that you're getting the ticket, and go with that. I just called and the cast member told me that the official policy is that once a child turns 3 they will need a ticket.

 

[Aussie Princess]

We took our son who turned 3 during our trip a few years ago we were told by Disney that it is the age the child is on the first day you enter the park.

So we didn't pay for a ticket nor food for him the entire trip including thanksgiving at Storytellers

 

[wilkeliza]

I would think at Disneyland it would probably be as ling as it is on the same family ticket. So what Disneyland go up to 5 day tickets that expire 14 days after first use so as ling as you are with in that window just say she is 2.

 

[Malcon10t]

I would think at Disneyland it would probably be as ling as it is on the same family ticket. So what Disneyland go up to 5 day tickets that expire 14 days after first use so as ling as you are with in that window just say she is 2.

If this is true, why not just be honest and say she turned 3 on XX day of the trip?

I've even seen parents who say since they were 2 when they got APs, they are 2 the entire year of their APs.

I guess I am the odd one out, I got my granddaughter a ticket for her 3rd birthday.
She was excited for her first ticket.

 

[wilkeliza]

If this is true, why not just be honest and say she turned 3 on XX day of the trip?

I've even seen parents who say since they were 2 when they got APs, they are 2 the entire year of their APs.

I guess I am the odd one out, I got my granddaughter a ticket for her 3rd birthday.
She was excited for her first ticket.

That's a fine way to do it as well. I think it is a little harder at WDW since we have magicbands and fp+, dinning packages etc. Since everything is done so far in advance it isn't easy to just buy them a ticket when they turn 3.

With the AP it is true if they become a Disney adult in the middle of their AP they can still use their children's AP but you are right it isn't for the entire year when they turn 3. Like I said at Disneyland I would say in the 14 day ticket span of everyone else it wouldn't be taking advantage. I only know the rules from when I was a CM and that was you don't age during a stay but what constitutes a stay is the real issue.

 

[mummabear]

However, I would expect that for any hard-ticketed event where you would pay separately you would take the child's age in consideration at the time of the event regardless of when you started your Disney vacation.

I agree.

If so, does that change during the trip

Yes it does, my understanding is that the package continues as at the same age as start of trip (so accommodation/tickets) but everything else is based on age at the time of the "event" so dining bookings do age.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

That's a fine way to do it as well. I think it is a little harder at WDW since we have magicbands and fp+, dinning packages etc. Since everything is done so far in advance it isn't easy to just buy them a ticket when they turn 3.

With the AP it is true if they become a Disney adult in the middle of their AP they can still use their children's AP but you are right it isn't for the entire year when they turn 3. Like I said at Disneyland I would say in the 14 day ticket span of everyone else it wouldn't be taking advantage. I only know the rules from when I was a CM and that was you don't age during a stay but what constitutes a stay is the real issue.

I'm not sure which park you're talking about with the AP, but at DL there is no children's AP. Everybody pays the same price, so going from child to adult during the year doesn't matter.

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm not sure which park you're talking about with the AP, but at DL there is no children's AP. Everybody pays the same price, so going from child to adult during the year doesn't matter.

Ah. I'm not as familiar with Disneyland APs. I see at WDW now they even got rid of the "children's" annual pass so that is no longer a valid point.

 

[Niltiac]

I don't have any personal experience with this, but I really think it makes sense that they would consider the child the same age for the entire trip for the sake of ticketing. Imagine if instead of turning 3, the child was turning 10. Are you supposed to buy the child a child's ticket for most of the trip and then a seperate adult ticket for the last day of the trip? That's a heck of a lot more expensive than adding a day to an existing ticket. And if the policy holds up for 9/10 year olds, it would just be confusing to have a seperate policy for 2/3 year olds.

 

[bkone]

Thanks again for the feedback. I did buy a Halloween party ticket, it was the park entry tickets that were throwing me as there seems to be some confusion on the issue. For anyone else dealing with this issue, it seems that the difference is between packages and just buying park tickets. If you have a package (I assume this means you book hotel and park tickets together through Disney?) the child doesn't age. If you have bought park tickets separately the child is supposed to have a ticket starting the day they turn 3.
Again thanks for all the advice, so looking forward to our trip!

 

[3monkeys4me]

Thanks again for the feedback. I did buy a Halloween party ticket, it was the park entry tickets that were throwing me as there seems to be some confusion on the issue. For anyone else dealing with this issue, it seems that the difference is between packages and just buying park tickets. If you have a package (I assume this means you book hotel and park tickets together through Disney?) the child doesn't age. If you have bought park tickets separately the child is supposed to have a ticket starting the day they turn 3.
Again thanks for all the advice, so looking forward to our trip!

This makes sense! The only experience I had in this situation was when my youngest turned 3. We booked a package directly through Disney. She turned 3 on day 4 of a 6 day trip. They did not charge her for a ticket (I did put her correct birthdate in) and she did not receive a ticket. We did do our character meals prior to her turning 3 because I didn't want to pay for her OR lie about her age.

Glad you have it figured out. Enjoy your trip!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

We had a similar situation with my twins. They turned 3 on the last day of one of our trips. We bought them passes for the day because we didn't want to cheat the system, but you would be surprised how many CMs pretty much told us they could have gotten away with being 2 for the whole trip and no one would have said a thing. Apparently, a lot of people bring their children a week before their actual birthday to celebrate.

I do think it's wrong to try to get a 3.5 year old or older in as a 2 year old, but if it's one day?

Glad you figured out what worked for you. I think it's a tricky situation.

 

[bkone]

Well I hate to keep rehashing this, but in case anyone else is dealing with this issue, I got another email and no wonder this is a confusing situation, there is so much conflicting information! So just this morning I got an official email from Disney responding to a question about this that I had posed to the Disney moms panel board. I guess that message got forwarded on to guest services and their "official" word was that no she does not need a ticket for her last day in park when she is officially three. SO for those keeping track -when chatting with Disney guest services online: yes she definitely needs a ticket. -a mom from Disney moms panel: yes she needs a ticket. -email from Disney guest services: no she doesn't.

To reinterate I was not trying to get away with anything. I have no problem buying a ticket if that's the rule, but figuring out the rule has been ridiculous.

I am glad to have the email which I'll keep handy just in case, but geez, what a cluster!!

 

[wilkeliza]

Well I hate to keep rehashing this, but in case anyone else is dealing with this issue, I got another email and no wonder this is a confusing situation, there is so much conflicting information! So just this morning I got an official email from Disney responding to a question about this that I had posed to the Disney moms panel board. I guess that message got forwarded on to guest services and their "official" word was that no she does not need a ticket for her last day in park when she is officially three. SO for those keeping track -when chatting with Disney guest services online: yes she definitely needs a ticket. -a mom from Disney moms panel: yes she needs a ticket. -email from Disney guest services: no she doesn't.

To reinterate I was not trying to get away with anything. I have no problem buying a ticket if that's the rule, but figuring out the rule has been ridiculous.

I am glad to have the email which I'll keep handy just in case, but geez, what a cluster!!

Disney Guest Services is the official word so take that. The chat CMs should really be better but they aren't. They have access to the same information guest services does but most just answer what they think they know instead of checking the actual CM FAQ.

Mom's panel is a joke and they even have a massive disclaimer that says nothing said by the mom's panel is official so I have no clue why it exists.

 

[Rabb it]

Yep, it's up to the gate keepers discretion, but if they ask just say 2.. They aren't gonna say "prove it!" Or anything like that.

 

[bkone]

Yep, it's up to the gate keepers discretion, but if they ask just say 2.. They aren't gonna say "prove it!" Or anything like that.

Well see, I don't think that's true... If the official Disney policy (per Disney guest services) is that if she starts 2 she gets to be 2 for the whole trip, than CMs at the gate shouldn't be able to make up their own rules. That just doesn't make sense.

My daughter is super excited to be turning 3 at Disneyland and part of my issue here is that if asked I want to be able to say "turned 3 yesterday!" Because I do have the email I have no problem telling the truth and if challenged showing the "proof."

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... My daughter is super excited to be turning 3 at Disneyland and part of my issue here is that if asked I want to be able to say "turned 3 yesterday!" Because I do have the email I have no problem telling the truth and if challenged showing the "proof."

Well, of course she is! And she should be able to have a Happy Birthday button and to wear it proudly on her special day! The email should be fine. I doubt you will be challenged.

 

[SMD]

Well see, I don't think that's true... If the official Disney policy (per Disney guest services) is that if she starts 2 she gets to be 2 for the whole trip, than CMs at the gate shouldn't be able to make up their own rules. That just doesn't make sense.

My daughter is super excited to be turning 3 at Disneyland and part of my issue here is that if asked I want to be able to say "turned 3 yesterday!" Because I do have the email I have no problem telling the truth and if challenged showing the "proof."

I wouldn't buy a regular admission ticket at this point. Let your daughter proudly proclaim that she turned 3 yesterday, and if you encounter any pushback at the turnstile, and a lead confirms that she needs a ticket, buy one at that point. The number of families who have a child who turns 3 during their trip is probably pretty minimal, and even then, it's a few days out of a maximum of 5 day ticket. The number who admit their child turned 3 mid-trip even less. The CMs probably don't know what to do in that scenario because they rarely encounter it.

Not your issue, but the one place that they really could do better is APs. How many families that have APs have a child turning 3 in any given year? They could easily offer a pro-rated AP for the 1 year where that happens to sync up a child's AP to a parent. I know some families like to stagger their AP renewals to spread out the cost, but for ones who don't, why encourage them to sneak their into the parks for months. Why not just make a simple system so that small group of people can be honest.